Sonar's status

Baltimore's renowned warehouse space is shutting its doors.

Sonar, the giant warehouse space that plays host to national acts and DJs, has announced that it's shutting down, according to its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Around 4 p.m. today, the venue posted on its Facebook page: "We here at Sonar regret to inform you that we are no longer able to operate as a venue. Mr. Lonnie Fisher, corporate owner of Sonar, has shut the building down. He has refused to renew the liquor license and the corporate charter for 407 Saratoga Inc. All of the money in our account went into paying our taxes with the promise of the license being renewed and transferred to the new owners."

This is sad news for Baltimore entertainment for a multitude of reasons, but mainly because there is really nothing comparable to it in the city. I remember going to Sonar when it first opened on Saratoga Street in 2002, and being shocked and impressed at its size—and the individual atmospheres that each room had—and the venue has only expanded since then. It's rumored that Sonar will be moving its scheduled shows to different venues around town, a a reflection of how the club has always encompassed so many different genres and events all under one roof.

Update: On May 7, Sonar managers updated its Facebook page, saying that the club was reopening. According to the Baltimore Business Journal, the club will remain open, for now, without the bar. However, the staffers insist they are trying to get the liquor license issue resolved. Though some shows have been moved to other venues, Sonar is planning on hosting the Deftones and the Maryland Deathfest.